Azure Water Dragon Viper

Lin Feng: "Congratulations, Grandpa Dugu!"

Dugu Yan: "Congratulations, Grandpa!"

Lin Feng: "Next is Sister Yan's turn. But before she begins, I'll prepare another dose of medicine for you. That way, you'll no longer have to fear the aura of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye. As long as you don't jump into it, you can stay in this area for as long as you like. The closer you are to the springs, the more beneficial the aura is for absorbing Immortal Herbs."

Lin Feng began refining the medicine, adding some herbs that strengthened one's foundation and replenished vitality. In truth, he was not doing it for the medicine itself. He merely needed to add a drop of his own blood. Whether there was medicine or not did not matter, but asking Dugu Yan to drink his blood directly—never mind whether she would agree, he himself could not accept it. So, during the process, Lin Feng quietly cut his finger and let a drop of blood fall into the mixture. Given his current physique, the wound had already healed on its own the moment the drop of blood fell.

After taking the medicine, Dugu Yan sat beside the spring and began absorbing the Azure Water Dragon Saliva Mushroom. Once he saw that she had steadily entered her meditative state, Dugu Bo asked Lin Feng, "I saw you add your own blood to the medicine just now. Why?"

Lin Feng said, "I absorbed the two Immortal Herb-grade poisonous plants growing between the Ice and Fire springs. Here at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye, I forged a body immune to water and fire. Calling it immune to water and fire is a bit exaggerated, but I really can resist most cold and Fire attribute auras and energies. This method is not suitable for Sister Yan, though. If she used it, all her poison arts would be completely neutralized. But by refining medicine with my blood now, any low-level soul master can remain here without being eroded by the Ice and Fire aura. After Sister Yan's Martial Soul Evolution, it would be best for her to completely fuse with her External Soul Bone here before returning to Heaven Dou Royal Academy. It would be much safer. Besides, after she absorbs this Azure Water Dragon Saliva Mushroom, her Soul Power should conservatively reach above level 33. Going from level 26 to above level 33 in a single trip is too outrageous. It would be best for her to cultivate in seclusion for a while before going back."

Dugu Bo said, "You're right. Excitement muddled this old man's head, and I failed to consider all that. Though my strength has improved as well, I am only one man. If those factions decide to be shameless, I may not necessarily be able to protect Yan Yan."

Lin Feng said, "Exactly. It's better to cultivate in seclusion first. Grandpa Dugu, watch over Sister Yan while I refine something else." With that, he took out a chunk of Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Jelly from his Soul Tool.

Dugu Bo froze when he saw it. "You brat? You're going to eat that?"

One look at Dugu Bo's expression told Lin Feng what he was thinking. He explained, "Hold it. Don't get the wrong idea. On the market, this stuff is indeed used for what you think it is, but people nowadays have completely misunderstood it. Once Whale Rubber is refined with Fire attribute energy, directly absorbing it can strengthen a soul master's physique and even raise Soul Power to a certain extent. It can also help a soul master absorb Soul Rings beyond their usual age limit."

Dugu Bo asked, "Really? Whale Rubber has such an effect?"

Lin Feng said nothing. He directly released his Martial Soul.

When Dugu Bo saw the yellow and purple Soul Rings on Lin Feng's body, he was utterly shocked. A Thousand-year Second Spirit Ring—let alone seeing one, he had never even heard of such a thing.

Lin Feng said, "Before obtaining my Second Spirit Ring, I absorbed a piece of Whale Rubber that was around six thousand years old. Of course, it wasn't just that piece of Whale Rubber that gave me the physique to absorb a Thousand-year Second Spirit Ring. I built my foundation with Medicinal Baths from childhood and focused on body refinement as well. Only together did they produce my current results. I still have a piece of Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Jelly. Sister Yan can absorb it later. With a half-Immortal Grade herb and a piece of Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Jelly, absorbing a Third Soul Ring of around four or five thousand years should not be much of a problem for her."

Leaving Dugu Bo to watch over Dugu Yan, Lin Feng went to the Yang Spring to process the Whale Rubber. Once it was ready, Lin Feng swallowed it in one gulp, then leaped straight into the Cold Spring. Although absorbing refined Whale Rubber could increase Soul Power and physical strength, it still had some side effects. Staying outside would be rather awkward. The Cold Spring's low temperature was just right for suppressing those side effects.

By the time Lin Feng finished absorbing the Whale Rubber, his Soul Power had officially broken through to level 30. When he emerged from the Cold Spring, Dugu Yan had already finished absorbing the Azure Water Dragon Saliva Mushroom. She was no longer the purple-haired, green-eyed girl she had been before. Her hair had turned a dark green bordering on black. Unlike Dugu Bo's green hair, which looked somewhat dull and faded, Dugu Yan's dark green hair was brimming with vitality.

One look at Dugu Yan's condition told Lin Feng that she had succeeded. He said to her, "Congratulations, Sister Yan!" Then he tossed the piece of Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Jelly to Dugu Bo. "I'll leave that to Grandpa Dugu. Refine it at the Yang Spring and absorb it beside the Cold Spring; that can effectively suppress the side effects. I just happen to have something to do over there." With that, he left the central area under Dugu Yan's puzzled gaze. It was better to leave this matter to Dugu Bo. Lin Feng felt that he was not the right person for it.

Lin Feng did not leave the poison barrier Dugu Bo had set up. He simply wandered around within it. Sunset Forest truly deserved its reputation as the second-largest soul beast forest on Douluo Continent. Though it was not as dangerous as Star Dou Great Forest, its scenery was hardly inferior. Especially near the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye, the vegetation was exceptionally lush. In his previous life, this place would have been at least a five-star natural oxygen bar. After wandering around for most of the day, Lin Feng calculated that Dugu Yan should be finished by now and returned to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye.

After returning, Lin Feng and Dugu Yan both felt somewhat awkward when they looked at each other. If one said they were both young, Dugu Yan was already twelve, an age at which people in Douluo World could date or even marry. If one said Lin Feng was young, his soul was anything but. Fortunately, Dugu Yan quickly convinced herself that little brother Lin Feng was only nine and so knowledgeable, spending all his time studying and cultivating. He would not have any improper thoughts. Once Dugu Yan had convinced herself, her awkwardness faded away. And once she was no longer awkward, Lin Feng gradually got over his own embarrassment as well.

Lin Feng asked Dugu Yan, "What did Sister Yan's Martial Soul evolve into? Can you release it and let me see? We both need to hunt for Third Soul Rings later, and I can give you some advice based on your Martial Soul."

Dugu Yan did not waste words and directly released her Martial Soul. Lin Feng had never seen what the original Jade Serpent looked like, but the Martial Soul before him was an azure water dragon with dragon horns, whiskers, and short limbs. It emitted a fairly powerful Water Attribute aura, mixed with Poison attribute energy. It was clearly evolving toward a giant dragon, though the evolution was not yet complete. Even so, it was already an extremely powerful sub-dragon species Martial Soul.

Lin Feng said, "I understand. Sister Yan, you can put away your Martial Soul now. A sub-dragon species Martial Soul with both water and poison attributes—its bloodline level is roughly equal to Grandpa Dugu's former Jade Serpent Emperor. Have you named your new Martial Soul?"

Dugu Yan said, "Grandpa and I discussed it and decided to call it the Azure Water Dragon Viper."

Lin Feng said, "Azure Water Dragon Viper. It suits Sister Yan's current Martial Soul very well. As for Sister Yan's Third Soul Ring, this is what I'm thinking. Your Martial Soul is now a water-and-poison dual-attribute sub-dragon species. When we search for Soul Rings in the future, we should look for soul beasts in that direction. For the Third through Sixth Soul Rings, absorb sub-dragon species Soul Rings. Starting from the Seventh Soul Ring, absorb True Dragon species Soul Rings. That should allow us to develop this Martial Soul's greatest combat potential.

"Two types of soul beasts are especially suitable for Sister Yan's Third and Fourth Soul Rings: Poison Pool Dragon Crocodiles and Swamp Dragon Crocodiles. Both possess poison and water dual attributes. Poison Pool Dragon Crocodiles excel at offense, while Swamp Dragon Crocodiles excel at defense. One can provide an offensive soul skill, and the other a defensive soul skill.

"Grandpa Dugu, have you checked Sister Yan's current physical condition? I previously estimated that she could probably absorb a Soul Ring of around four to five thousand years. You can examine her to confirm it."

Dugu Bo said, "This old man already checked. Yan Yan's physical condition is now even slightly stronger than some Soul Ancestors who have just entered level 40. But to be cautious, it would be best to keep this Soul Ring within five thousand years. This old man happens to know where Poison Pool Dragon Crocodiles can be found in Sunset Forest, so we can head there directly. As for you, Feng'er, what kind of soul beast do you need?"

Lin Feng said, "My requirements are Fire attribute, preferably with a high-grade bloodline or better yet, a top-grade bloodline, and under ten thousand years. As for what kind of soul beast it is, that does not matter."

Dugu Bo asked, "Close to ten thousand years? Are you sure you'll be all right?"

Lin Feng said, "Don't worry, I know my limits. If I were confident that I could withstand the spiritual shock of a Ten-Thousand-Year soul beast, I would even want to try one."

Dugu Bo said, "As long as you know your limits. This old man believes you. I have lived in Sunset Forest for many years and know this place fairly well. I know where to find the soul beast you need. Let's first go to this old man's cave residence and rest. Neither of you has eaten properly in several days. We'll have a meal, then go hunt Soul Rings."